About Visas to Study in England

Before applying for an English course with us, please make sure that you understand the different visa options available to you.  

EU/EEA
If you come from an EU member state or from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland you will not require a visa to study in the UK.

The Rest of the World
If you are a visa national, you will need to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK; the type of visa will be dependent on the length of your course and your ability to study.

If you would like to undertake a course of study for under six months you will require a Student Visitor Visa.  If you cannot prove that your level of English is at CEFR level B1 or equivalent, or you are not sponsored by your government then you will need a student visitor visa.

If you would like to undertake a course of study for more than six months, then you will require a General Student Visa under the Points Based System (PBS). Under PBS you will either need to show your level of English is at CEFR level B2 (or equivalent), that you are sponsored by your government or that you are following a pre-sessional course of English before starting a degree. You will also need to show that you have the funds available to support yourself during your studies and that you have been given a ‘Confirmation of Acceptance’ for study from a Tier 4 education provider.

Please note that student rules changed from 03 March 2010.This latest update runs from 23 July 2010.

You can download the attached PDF from English UK if you need more information on visas.

For more information on Tier 4 visit the UKBA.

Spinnaker College is accredited by the British Council and English UK and is a trusted, A rated sponsor on the UK Border Agency's Register of Tier 4 sponsors.   If you are still unsure about applying for a visa, we can help you with initial visa advice.